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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ezra 4:4 Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ezra/4-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/15_Ezr_04_04.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ezra 4:4 - Adversaries Hinder the Work" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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They troubled them in building,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/ezra/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them from building,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/ezra/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them from building,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/ezra/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them from building,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/ezra/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />So the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and dismayed them from building,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/ezra/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Then [the Samaritans and others of] the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them [to deter them] from building,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/ezra/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the people who were already in the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/ezra/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the people who were already in the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/ezra/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/ezra/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Then the neighboring people began to do everything possible to frighten the Jews and to make them stop building. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/ezra/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/ezra/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Then the people of that region discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to continue building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/ezra/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Then the people who had been living in the land tried to discourage and frighten the Jews and keep them from building. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/ezra/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />After this, the non-Israeli inhabitants of the land undermined the people of Judah, harassing them in their construction work <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/ezra/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/ezra/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Then the local people began to discourage the people of Judah and to dishearten them from building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/ezra/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/ezra/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/ezra/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/ezra/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And it comes to pass, the people of the land are making the hands of the people of Judah feeble, and troubling them in building,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/ezra/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And it cometh to pass, the people of the land are making the hands of the people of Judah feeble, and troubling them in building,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/ezra/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the people of the land will be slackening the hands of the people of Judah, and terrifying them in building,<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/ezra/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Then the people of the land hindered the hands of the people of Juda, and troubled them in building. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/ezra/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Therefore, it happened that the people of the land impeded the hands of the people of Judah, and they troubled them in building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ezra/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Thereupon the local inhabitants discouraged the people of Judah and frightened them off from building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ezra/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and made them afraid to build,<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/ezra/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Then the Gentiles of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and terrified them that they should not build,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/ezra/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And the Gentiles of the land were weakening the hands of the people of Yehuda and wore them down that they would not build.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/ezra/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and harried them while they were building,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/ezra/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Juda, and hindered them in building,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/ezra/4-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sh6ec6iQe9M?start=826" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/ezra/4.htm">Adversaries Hinder the Work</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.” <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">Then</a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: ‘am- (N-msc) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">the people</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: hā·’ā·reṣ (Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">of the land</a> <a href="/hebrew/7503.htm" title="7503: mə·rap·pîm (V-Piel-Prtcpl-mp) -- Sink, relax. A primitive root; to slacken.">set out to discourage</a> <a href="/hebrew/3027.htm" title="3027: yə·ḏê (N-fdc) -- Hand (indicating power, means, direction, etc.)"></a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: ‘am- (N-msc) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">the people</a> <a href="/hebrew/3063.htm" title="3063: yə·hū·ḏāh (N-proper-fs) -- From yadah; celebrated; Jehudah, the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory.">of Judah</a> <a href="/hebrew/1089.htm" title="1089: ū·mə·ḇa·la·hīm (Conj-w:: V-Piel-Prtcpl-mp) -- To be troubled. A primitive root; to palpitate; hence, to terrify.">and make them afraid</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·w·ṯām (DirObjM:: 3mp) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1129.htm" title="1129: liḇ·nō·wṯ (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To build. A primitive root; to build.">to build.</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/4-1.htm">Nehemiah 4:1-3</a></span><br />Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews / before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?” / Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/6-9.htm">Nehemiah 6:9</a></span><br />For they were all trying to frighten us, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will never be finished.” But now, my God, strengthen my hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/4-7.htm">Nehemiah 4:7-8</a></span><br />When Sanballat and Tobiah, together with the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they were furious, / and all of them conspired to come and fight against Jerusalem and create a hindrance.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/2-19.htm">Nehemiah 2:19-20</a></span><br />But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked us and ridiculed us, saying, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” / So I answered them and said, “The God of heaven is the One who will grant us success. We, His servants, will start rebuilding, but you have no portion, right, or claim in Jerusalem.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/6-1.htm">Nehemiah 6:1-2</a></span><br />When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left—though to that time I had not yet installed the doors in the gates— / Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/6-5.htm">Nehemiah 6:5-8</a></span><br />The fifth time, Sanballat sent me this same message by his young servant, who had in his hand an unsealed letter / that read: “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem agrees—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and this is why you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king, / and you have even appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf: ‘There is a king in Judah.’ Soon these rumors will reach the ears of the king. So come, let us confer together.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/6-13.htm">Nehemiah 6:13-14</a></span><br />He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would sin by doing as he suggested, so they could give me a bad name in order to discredit me. / O my God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who tried to intimidate me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/4-11.htm">Nehemiah 4:11</a></span><br />And our enemies said, “Before they know or see a thing, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/4-15.htm">Nehemiah 4:15</a></span><br />When our enemies heard that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated it, each of us returned to his own work on the wall.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/4-17.htm">Nehemiah 4:17-18</a></span><br />who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. / And each of the builders worked with his sword strapped at his side. But the trumpeter stayed beside me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/6-16.htm">Nehemiah 6:16</a></span><br />When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and disheartened, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/6-19.htm">Nehemiah 6:19</a></span><br />Moreover, these nobles kept reporting to me Tobiah’s good deeds, and they relayed my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/13-8.htm">Acts 13:8-10</a></span><br />But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. / Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas / and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/14-2.htm">Acts 14:2</a></span><br />But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/17-5.htm">Acts 17:5-8</a></span><br />The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people. / But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here, / and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus!” ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,</p><p class="hdg">weakened</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezra/3-3.htm">Ezra 3:3</a></b></br> And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear <i>was</i> upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, <i>even</i> burnt offerings morning and evening.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/nehemiah/6-9.htm">Nehemiah 6:9</a></b></br> For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, <i>O God</i>, strengthen my hands.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/35-3.htm">Isaiah 35:3,4</a></b></br> Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees… </p><p class="hdg">troubled</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/nehemiah/4-7.htm">Nehemiah 4:7,8,11</a></b></br> But it came to pass, <i>that</i> when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, <i>and</i> that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_chronicles/32-18.htm">Afraid</a> <a href="/ezra/4-3.htm">Build</a> <a href="/ezra/4-3.htm">Building</a> <a href="/numbers/32-9.htm">Discourage</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/32-7.htm">Discouraged</a> <a href="/ezra/3-3.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/28-15.htm">Feeble</a> <a href="/joshua/1-9.htm">Frightened</a> <a href="/ezra/1-6.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/ezra/4-1.htm">Judah</a> <a href="/ezra/3-4.htm">Making</a> <a href="/ezra/3-3.htm">Peoples</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/32-7.htm">Troubled</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/32-18.htm">Troubling</a> <a href="/romans/8-3.htm">Weakened</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/nehemiah/2-2.htm">Afraid</a> <a href="/ezra/5-2.htm">Build</a> <a href="/ezra/4-12.htm">Building</a> <a href="/numbers/32-7.htm">Discourage</a> <a href="/nehemiah/6-9.htm">Discouraged</a> <a href="/ezra/9-4.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-2.htm">Feeble</a> <a href="/nehemiah/6-13.htm">Frightened</a> <a href="/ezra/5-8.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/ezra/4-6.htm">Judah</a> <a href="/ezra/4-16.htm">Making</a> <a href="/ezra/6-12.htm">Peoples</a> <a href="/ezra/9-3.htm">Troubled</a> <a href="/esther/4-5.htm">Troubling</a> <a href="/nehemiah/6-9.htm">Weakened</a><div class="vheading2">Ezra 4</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezra/4-1.htm">The adversaries, being not accepted in the building of the temple with the Jews, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezra/4-4.htm">endeavor to hinder it</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezra/4-7.htm">Their letter to Artaxerxes</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezra/4-17.htm">The answer and decree of Artaxerxes</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezra/4-23.htm">The building is hindered</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezra/4.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezra/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/ezra/4.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Then the people of the land</b><br>This phrase refers to the inhabitants of the region surrounding Judah, primarily the Samaritans and other groups who had settled in the area during the Babylonian exile. These people were a mix of various ethnicities and religious practices, which often conflicted with the returning Jewish exiles' efforts to reestablish their distinct identity and worship of Yahweh. Historically, these groups had been relocated by the Assyrian Empire, as seen in <a href="/2_kings/17-24.htm">2 Kings 17:24</a>, leading to tensions with the returning Jews.<p><b>set out to discourage the people of Judah</b><br>The opposition from the local inhabitants was a significant challenge for the returning exiles. This discouragement was not merely emotional but involved active efforts to hinder the rebuilding process. The discouragement can be seen as a tactic to prevent the reestablishment of a strong Jewish presence in the region, which could threaten the existing power dynamics. This opposition is a recurring theme in the post-exilic period, as seen in <a href="/nehemiah/4.htm">Nehemiah 4:1-3</a>, where similar tactics are used against the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls.<p><b>and make them afraid</b><br>Fear was a powerful tool used by the adversaries to halt the progress of the rebuilding efforts. This fear could have stemmed from threats of violence, political pressure, or economic sanctions. The use of fear is a common strategy of opposition throughout biblical history, as seen in the story of Nehemiah, where threats and intimidation were used to stop the work on the walls of Jerusalem (<a href="/nehemiah/6-9.htm">Nehemiah 6:9</a>). The fear also reflects the vulnerability of the returning exiles, who were still establishing themselves in a land that had been under foreign control for decades.<p><b>to build</b><br>The building referred to here is the reconstruction of the temple in Jerusalem, a central aspect of Jewish identity and worship. The temple's rebuilding was crucial for the restoration of proper worship and the fulfillment of prophecies concerning the return from exile, such as those found in <a href="/isaiah/44-28.htm">Isaiah 44:28</a> and <a href="/jeremiah/29-10.htm">Jeremiah 29:10</a>. The temple also serves as a type of Christ, foreshadowing Jesus as the true temple (<a href="/john/2-19.htm">John 2:19-21</a>), where God's presence dwells among His people. The opposition to the building project can be seen as an attempt to thwart God's redemptive plan, which ultimately finds fulfillment in Christ.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/p/people_of_the_land.htm">People of the Land</a></b><br>These were the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin, likely the Samaritans and other groups who had settled in the region during the Babylonian exile. They opposed the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/p/people_of_judah.htm">People of Judah</a></b><br>The returning exiles who were tasked with rebuilding the temple. They faced opposition and discouragement from the surrounding peoples.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/r/rebuilding_of_the_temple.htm">Rebuilding of the Temple</a></b><br>This was the central event around which the opposition arose. The temple's reconstruction was crucial for the restoration of Jewish worship and identity.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_reality_of_opposition.htm">The Reality of Opposition</a></b><br>Believers should expect opposition when undertaking God's work. Just as the people of Judah faced discouragement, Christians today may encounter resistance in their spiritual endeavors.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/discouragement_as_a_tool_of_the_enemy.htm">Discouragement as a Tool of the Enemy</a></b><br>Discouragement is a common tactic used by adversaries to halt progress. Recognizing this can help believers remain steadfast and focused on God's promises.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/courage_in_the_face_of_fear.htm">Courage in the Face of Fear</a></b><br>The people of Judah were made afraid, yet the call to rebuild was from God. Christians are encouraged to find courage in God's calling and promises, trusting that He will provide strength.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_support_and_prayer.htm">Community Support and Prayer</a></b><br>Facing opposition is easier when believers support one another through prayer and encouragement. The community of faith plays a vital role in overcoming discouragement.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faithfulness_to_god's_mission.htm">Faithfulness to God's Mission</a></b><br>Despite opposition, the mission remains. Believers are called to remain faithful to God's work, trusting that He will bring it to completion.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ezra_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ezra 4</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/do_psalm_126_and_nehemiah_4_conflict.htm">Do the joyful descriptions in Psalm 126:2, 5–6 conflict with other biblical accounts (e.g., Nehemiah 4) that depict the return from exile as difficult and fraught with opposition? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_prioritize_homes_over_the_temple.htm">Why prioritize homes over rebuilding the temple?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_was_zerubbabel's_rebuilding_slow.htm">If the Holy Spirit truly empowered Zerubbabel to rebuild (Zechariah 4:6), why was the process slow and fraught with opposition instead of miraculously effortless? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_do_sources_suggest_delays_in_rebuilding.htm">If Haggai 1:12–15 is accurate in portraying the people’s swift obedience, why do some historical sources imply that progress on the rebuild was neither immediate nor uninterrupted?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ezra/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - Then <span class="cmt_word">the people of the land</span> (<span class="accented">i.e.</span> the Samaritans) <span class="cmt_word">weakened the hands of the people of Judah.</span> As aiding is called "strengthening the hands (<span class="accented">infra</span>, <a href="/ezra/6-22.htm">Ezra 6:22</a>; <a href="/isaiah/35-3.htm">Isaiah 35:3</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/23-14.htm">Jeremiah 23:14</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/16-49.htm">Ezekiel 16:49</a>, etc.), so hindering is expressed by "weakening the hands" (<a href="/jeremiah/38-4.htm">Jeremiah 38:4</a>), though this latter phrase is, comparatively speaking, unusual. <span class="cmt_word">And troubled them in building</span>. Probably as Sanballat and his followers troubled the builders of the wall in Nehemiah's time (<a href="/nehemiah/4-1.htm">Nehemiah 4:1-12</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/ezra/4-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Then</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיְהִי֙</span> <span class="translit">(way·hî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the people</span><br /><span class="heb">עַם־</span> <span class="translit">(‘am-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> </span><span class="str2">A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the land</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאָ֔רֶץ</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ā·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">set out to discourage</span><br /><span class="heb">מְרַפִּ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(mə·rap·pîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7503.htm">Strong's 7503: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sink, relax</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the people</span><br /><span class="heb">עַם־</span> <span class="translit">(‘am-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> </span><span class="str2">A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Judah</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוּדָ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(yə·hū·ḏāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3063.htm">Strong's 3063: </a> </span><span class="str2">Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and make them afraid</span><br /><span class="heb">וּֽמְבַהֲלִ֥ים</span> <span class="translit">(ū·mə·ḇa·hă·lîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1086.htm">Strong's 1086: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fail, to wear out, decay</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to build.</span><br /><span class="heb">לִבְנֽוֹת׃</span> <span class="translit">(liḇ·nō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1129.htm">Strong's 1129: </a> </span><span class="str2">To build</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ezra/4-4.htm">Ezra 4:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ezra/4-4.htm">Ezra 4:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ezra/4-4.htm">Ezra 4:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ezra/4-4.htm">Ezra 4:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ezra/4-4.htm">Ezra 4:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ezra/4-4.htm">Ezra 4:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ezra/4-4.htm">Ezra 4:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ezra/4-4.htm">Ezra 4:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ezra/4-4.htm">Ezra 4:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/ezra/4-4.htm">Ezra 4:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/ezra/4-4.htm">OT History: Ezra 4:4 Then the people of the land weakened (Ezr. Ez) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ezra/4-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ezra 4:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ezra 4:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ezra/4-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ezra 4:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ezra 4:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>